EC Clearance for Ferry Consolidation

P&O welcomes the announcement by the European Commission that it has cleared the Group's proposed purchase of Stena Line's 40 percent shareholding in P&O Stena Line. The transaction is expected to complete during the next week. P&O Chairman Lord Sterling said: "We are delighted to have received clearance from the EC. We can now proceed on schedule with the planned consolidation of our ferry businesses. By managing the businesses together we will be able to maximise synergies and growth opportunities across the board and build on what is undoubtedly the strongest brand name in the industry, P&O Ferries."